Today have been researching more on my chosen influence in textiles, in particular Constance Howard the lady that started the group.   Below is a link to an article in the Guardian written after Constance passed away.   In it, she is described "was a remarkable artist, an inspiring teacher and an extraordinary character - and arguably the most influential British pioneer in textile design of her generation.  She had a colossal impact on contemporary embroidery and in establishing the confidence of textile work in the second half of the last century".

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/jul/20/guardianobituaries1

http://www.gold.ac.uk/textile-collection/history/

Such was her contribution to textiles and to Goldsmith College, the Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles was set up and is still in existence today.  
The Country Wife 4.5 x 5 metres shown below is one of her most famous pieces of work.

http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/tinyimages/cw2.jpg